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Making the future of work inclusive of people with disabilities

ILO GLOBAL BUSINESS AND DISABILITY NETWORK
FUNDACION ONCE
November 2019

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This is a first exercise to connect different areas of debate, looking at the key trends of the future of work from a disability perspective and seeking to identify specific action needed in order to shape the future of work in a more disability-inclusive way.

Chapters include: Work and disability - overview of current situation; megatrends of future work and persons with disability (technological revolution, skills revolution, cultutral change, demographic change and climate change); and Roadmap for an inclusive future of work.

 

The following five key objectives for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the future of work have been identified:

1. New forms of employment and employment relations integrate disability inclusion

2. Skills development and life-long learning made inclusive of persons with disabilities

3. Universal Design embedded in development of all new infrastructure, products and services

4. Assistive technologies, existing and newly developed, to be made affordable and available

5. Measures to include persons with disabilities in growing and developing areas of the economy

 

Governments, companies, disability NGOs, trade unions and academia must be encouraged to commit and contribute towards achieving these objectives through different actions. An inclusive future of work can be reached through coordination and alliances among the different stakeholders

Towards inclusive social protection systems supporting full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities

SCHMITT, Valerie
BEHRENDT, Christina
April 2019

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Presentations and discussion from the Disability-Inclusive Social Protection meeting, 8 April 2019

As a follow up to the joint statement “Towards inclusive social protection systems supporting full and effective participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities”, the new UNPRDP funded initiative co-implemented by ILO and UNICEF in close cooperation with IDA seeks to develop practical guidance for countries, development agencies and DPOs for the reform of different critical aspects of social protection systems.

CII launches the India Business Disability Network, a unique platform for companies to enable inclusion

ILO Global Business and Disability Network
February 2019

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The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched the India Business Disability Network (IBDN) at the National Conference on ‘Mainstreaming Inclusivity & Accessibility – Enabling Industry’ in Delhi on 21 January 2019.

The IBDN is a National Business and Disability Network that promotes and facilitates an inclusive, accessible and a barrier-free workplace within the corporate sector, and set up in joint partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Employers’ Federation of India (EFI). IBDN is a one stop solution to share learnings and best practices, create context-based solutions, facilitate partnerships, facilitate inclusion, and create & dissemination knowledge

Labour market inclusion of people with disabilities: Paper presented at the 1st Meeting of the G20 Employment Working Group

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)
February 2018

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A common understanding of how to approach the employment of persons with disabilities in a way that respects social justice, human rights and decent work as a key element of more inclusive economies and societies is sought. Having the employment of persons with disabilities on the G20 agenda is also a reflection of the increased attention to the rights of persons with disabilities both at a national as well as at an international level. The contribution focuses on one particular group of people with disabilities, namely those who may have been born with disabilities or may have developed some during their lives, but either way have remaining work capacities and are at working age. 

Employment-to-population ratio statistics for persons with and without disabilities are provided for some of the G20 countries. Economic and social determinants of low employment rates of people with disabilities are discussed.

 

Policies across G20 countries for the labour market inclusion of persons with disabilities are discussed

  • demand side - promoting disability inclusion within the private and public sector
  • supply side - ensuring that persons with disabilities have the skills as demanded by the labour market
  • making the environment more enabling 
  • mental health as a special challenge
  • measurement and quality data to inform evidence-based policies

 

Promoting rights of people with disabilities in Indonesia (UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities / UNPRPD) - Special edition, ILO Jakarta newsletter

ILO Jakarta
February 2018

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One of the first implementing countries of the UNPRPD was Indonesia. In Indonesia the project was jointly implemented between the ILO, WHO and UNESCO, in partnership with the national entities such as the Association of Indonesian Municipalities (APEKSI) and various disability rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

 

The newsletter has items on: 

  • Towards inclusive cities - Fourteen mayors across Indonesia signed the Charter of the Network of Indonesian Mayors for Inclusive Cities in Indonesia during the UN-sponsored High-Level Meeting of Mayors for Inclusive Cities
  • Towards inclusive employment - Mojokerto city in East Java is the first city in the country to conduct an inclusive job fair at the district level. The first two-day inclusive job fair was organized in 2014 and it has become an annual event
  • Employment assessments for people iwth disabilities - In collaboration with the University of Indonesia, the ILO conducted a study on Mapping Persons with Disabilities in Indonesia. The study reveals that there is an urgent need to increase the labour-force participation of people with disabilities
  • Rapid Assessment on Employment for Persons with Disabilities

 

Guide for business on the rights of persons with disabilities

WYNHOVEN, Ursula
et al
August 2017

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A guide to help improve business’ understanding of the rights of people with disabilities, including how to respect, support and give them an opportunity to improve their competitiveness and sustainability in alignment with relevant United Nations (UN) conventions and frameworks.

 

This guide is the result of an international collaborative effort spanning over 12 months. Its findings and recommendations are based on the following: desk research, a review of publically available information, literature and case studies, ongoing consultations with an international multistakeholder expert group constituted specifically to advise on and shape the development of this guide, good practice examples submitted by companies across the world to the partner organizations, and an extensive global consultation with interested businesses and other stakeholders. 

The disabled beggar : a literature review

GROCE, Nora
LOEB, Marie
MURRAY, Barbara
September 2014

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Beggars with disabilities are among the poorest and most disadvantaged in society. Yet they are virtually invisible in the policy agenda of countries around the world, and are often overlooked in programme and advocacy efforts to improve opportunities for people with disabilities in general. This literature review originated as part of an exploratory study of beggars with disabilities in Ethiopia, published by the Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre in collaboration with the ILO in 2013 based on fieldwork undertaken by Professor Groce in Addis Abba. It has been updated and published separately as a contribution to debates on the social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities, on poverty reduction and social protection

Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch, Working Paper No. 1

Inclusion of youth with disabilities: The business case

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
January 2014

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This is a how-to guide for companies interested in integrating youth with disabilities into their workforce. "This guide is based on initiatives that are currently tried out by ten companies to employ youth with disabilities in eight countries (Brazil, Chile, China, India, Norway, Republic of Serbia, Singapore and the United States). Good practices and useful insights are identified and explained through first-hand accounts. First, the business case for employing youth with disabilities is made. This section will highlight how two companies benefited from initiatives to employ youth with disabilities. Next, four reoccurring good practices that were cited in the featured cases are given particular consideration:

  • partner with an organization that specializes in disability services;
  • provide (when necessary) disability-accessible skills training;
  • offer recruitment and job placement services;
  • embrace a policy of inclusion and non-discrimination"

Promoting equality and addressing discrimination - Disability: Inclusive approaches for productive work

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE (ILO)
May 2013

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Part 6.3 of the ILO's "The Informal Economy and Decent Work: A Policy Resource Guide supporting transitions to formality"

Key challenges are discussed:

  • Marginalization from the mainstream economy
  • Weak data to support policy development
  • Attitudinal barriers and social exclusion
  • Low educational levels
  • Skills gaps
  • Labour market discrimination
  • Weak policy and legal environment

and emerging approaches and good practices are presented:

  • A rights based approach
  • Inclusive strategies
  • Addressing data challenges
  • Expanding labour market opportunities
  • Education policies
  • Overcoming skills gaps
  • Making training accessible
  • Community Based Rehabilitation 
  • Changing policy and legal frameworks
  • Awareness raising and knowledge sharing

Disability in the workplace : employers' organizations and business networks

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE (ILO)
2011

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This paper is "a compilation of 12 case studies of employers’ organizations and business networks, describing their activities related to disability and employment. The publication is intended for employers’ organizations and other representative business organizations, companies, workers’ organizations, ILO staff, people with disabilities, and others interested in learning about the inclusion of disabled people in the workplace. It contributes to the knowledge sharing activities of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network"
Working Paper No 6

Achieving equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities through legislation : an education and training guide

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION
2011

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This education and training guide has been designed to support improved capacity of governments in collaboration with social partners and civil society agencies to design, implement and evaluate legislation that effectively supports equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It presents seven modules outlining different methods and strategies in for practitioners and advocates individuals to achieve a positive legislative impact

Disability in the workplace : company practices

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE (ILO)
2010

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This paper is "a compilation of 25 company profiles, which describes how companies address hiring and retention, products and services and corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the perspective of disability. The publication is for companies, employers’ organizations and other representative business organizations, workers’ organizations, ILO staff, people with disabilities, and others interested in learning about company practices as it relates to disability. It is one of the first knowledge sharing initiatives of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network"
Working Paper No 3

Recognizing ability : the skills and productivity of persons with disabilities|Literature review

POWERS, Tony
2008

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This resource highlights the contribution of skills development to enhancing the productivity of disabled persons. General background information is provided about the labour market, people with disabilities, productivity and access to employment. Various approaches to skills development are examined with details outlining 'What works, where, and why'. It would be a useful resource for people interested in skills development of people with disabilities in developing countries

Count us in!|How to make sure that women with disabilities can participate effectively in mainstream women’s entrepreneurship development activities

GILBERT, Maureen
2008

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These guidelines aim to facilitate the inclusion of women with disabilities in general entrepreneurship training and services in mainstream Women’s Entrepreneurship Development activities. They contain practical advice, training programmes, tools and materials for promoting entrepreneurship and improving livelihoods for women with disabilities. They would be useful for service providers interested in women entrepreneurs with disabilities

Strategies for skills acquisition and work for persons with disabilities in Southern Africa : synthesis report|Malawi, South Africa, Zambia

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE (ILO)
February 2007

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This report of a study completed by the ILO in Malawi, South Africa and Zambia, examines access for persons with disabilities to acquire training and obtain employment. The study finds that if given opportunities to learn new skills, persons with disabilities are equally as likely to contribute to society and the overall economy as non-disabled persons. Recommendations are provided for government and non-government organisations. This report would be useful for governments, NGOs and practitioners interested in strategies for skills acquisition and work for persons with disabilities in southern Africa

Achieving equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities through legislation : guidelines

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION
2004

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These guidlines contribute to the widely accepted disability rights approach and is intended for policy makers. They have been produced to assist improving national laws for disabled people, so that the assumption that disability and unemployment are determining each other will fade away.
The guidelines are written in an easy-to-understand language and address the issues of employment and disability in an accessible way

Youth at risk : the role of skills development in facilitating the transition to work

BREWER, Laura
2004

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This paper explores the issue the issue of skills development for youth-at-risk, including the economically vulnerable and the socially excluded. Good examples of training programmes and projects are provided, and innovative approaches are highlighted. This resource would be useful to people interested in youth-at-risk and the role of skill development in facilitating their transition to work

The right to decent work of persons with disabilities

O'REILLY, Arthur
2003

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The ILO has commissioned this paper as a contribution to the deliberations taking place in preparation for the development of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The paper is intended to be of specific relevance to those involved in drafting the provisions concerning employment and work in the proposed Convention. By examining the development over time of the legal ‘right to work’ of disabled persons, the way in which this matter has been dealt with in international instruments and national legislation to date, and the experience in implementing employment and work opportunities, the paper will enable those involved in the preparation of the proposed UN Convention to build on achievements so far

Disability and poverty reduction strategies : how to ensure that access of persons with disabilities to decent and productive work is part of the PRSP process

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO)
2002

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The World Bank and International Monetary Fund's poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP) approach has been widely adopted by many countries. However the examination of current PRSPs shows that disabled people have been forgotten in most of them. This paper summarises reasons why it is important to include disabled people in the PRSP process. It also presents how disabled people should be included in the PRSPs and analyses the way disability has been treated in the PRSP sourcebook

ILO code of practice on managing disability in the workplace

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO)
2001

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This code of practice gives guidance to employers and governments on how disabled people can be included in the work process. It includes sections on recruitment, accessibility and adaptations. Some examples of policy and legislation are given, mostly from Northern countries

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